Collision sensor, collision sensing system, and method

Abstract

A collision sensor, a collision sensing system, and a method of mounting a collision sensor to a vehicle are disclosed herein. An embodiment of the collision sensor includes, but is not limited to, a processor and a three-axis accelerometer that is communicatively coupled with the processor. The three-axis accelerometer is configured to detect an acceleration experienced by a vehicle and to generate a signal indicative of the acceleration. The processor is configured to obtain the signal from the three-axis accelerometer and to determine when the vehicle has experienced a collision based, at least in part, on the signal.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A collision sensing system comprising:
 a processor installed within a vehicle; and 
 a three-axis accelerometer installed within the vehicle and communicatively coupled with the processor, the three-axis accelerometer configured to detect an acceleration experienced by the vehicle and to generate a signal indicative of the acceleration, 
 wherein the processor is configured to obtain the signal from the three-axis accelerometer and to determine when the vehicle has experienced a collision based, at least in part, on the signal. 
 
     
     
       2. The collision sensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor and the three-axis accelerometer are communicatively coupled via a wireless connection. 
     
     
       3. The collision sensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor and the three-axis accelerometer are communicatively coupled via a wired connection. 
     
     
       4. The collision sensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is associated with a device that is installed within the vehicle. 
     
     
       5. The collision sensing system of  claim 4 , wherein the three-axis accelerometer is configured to be positioned remotely from the device. 
     
     
       6. The collision sensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to generate a second signal indicative of the occurrence of a collision when the processor determines that a collision has occurred and is further configured to provide the second signal to a device. 
     
     
       7. A collision sensing system comprising:
 a processor installed within a vehicle; 
 a three-axis accelerometer installed within the vehicle and communicatively coupled with the processor, the three-axis accelerometer configured to detect an acceleration experienced by the vehicle and to generate a signal indicative of the acceleration; and 
 a device installed within the vehicle and communicatively coupled with the processor, 
 wherein the processor is configured to obtain the signal from the three-axis accelerometer, to determine when the vehicle has experienced a collision based, at least in part, on the signal, to generate a second signal indicative of the occurrence of the collision when the processor determines that the collision has occurred, and to provide the second signal to the device. 
 
     
     
       8. The collision sensing system of  claim 7 , further comprising a housing disposed within the vehicle, wherein the communication unit and the processor are mounted within the housing. 
     
     
       9. The collision sensing system of  claim 8 , wherein the three-axis accelerometer is mounted within the housing. 
     
     
       10. The collision sensing system of  claim 7 , wherein the three-axis accelerometer is configured to be mounted remotely from at least one of the processor and the device. 
     
     
       11. The collision sensing system of  claim 10 , wherein the three-axis accelerometer is configured to be mounted remotely from both the processor and the device. 
     
     
       12. The collision sensing system of  claim 7 , wherein the device is configured to transmit a wireless distress signal in response to receiving the second signal from the processor. 
     
     
       13. The collision sensing system of  claim 7 , wherein the processor is configured to control the device to transmit a wireless distress signal in response to receiving the second signal from the processor. 
     
     
       14. The collision sensing system of  claim 7 , wherein the device includes a wireless transmitter installed within the vehicle. 
     
     
       15. The collision sensing system of  claim 7 , wherein the device comprises an aftermarket telematics unit installed within the vehicle, the aftermarket telematics unit including a cellular chipset. 
     
     
       16. The collision sensing system of  claim 7 , wherein the device comprises a docking station installed within the vehicle, the docking station configured to receive a smart phone. 
     
     
       17. The collision sensing system of  claim 7 , wherein the processor and the three-axis accelerometer are communicatively coupled via a wireless connection. 
     
     
       18. The collision sensor of  claim 7 , wherein the processor and the three-axis accelerometer are communicatively coupled via a wired connection. 
     
     
       19. A method for mounting a collision sensor to a vehicle, the collision sensor having a three-axis accelerometer, the method comprising the steps of:
 positioning the vehicle on a level surface; 
 mounting the collision sensor to the vehicle; 
 obtaining current acceleration readings from the three-axis accelerometer while the vehicle is positioned on the level surface; and 
 calibrating the collision sensor while the vehicle is positioned on the level surface by associating the current acceleration readings of the three-axis accelerometer with the level surface. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19 , wherein calibrating the collision sensor comprises calibration of the collision sensor by a purchaser of the collision sensor or by the vehicle owner.